Improving denitrification efficiency of supercritical unit for peak load regulation by changing feed water temperature has become a focus of thermal power engineering under wide load. However, the effect mechanism of feed water temperature on the performance of supercritical unit is indistinct absolutely at the intermediate point temperature (IPT)-setting mode, which obstructs the performance optimization and the excavation of energy saving of supercritical unit with a change of feed water temperature aims at improving denitrification efficiency of supercritical unit. For the purpose, a closed cycle theory in which thermal power unit operating parameters interact and form a closed influence mechanism was defined and proposed, with such a core ideology, the performance analysis and assessment models under IPT-setting mode is constructed on the differential theory, energy balance and thermodynamics method, and the accuracy of established model is verified. These developed models are applied to assess the operational performance and to identify energy saving potential of supercritical unit for peak load regulation. Subsequently, a typical 660 MW ultra-supercritical coal fired power plant is selected as a reference case. Not only a quantitative analysis of effect of increasing feed water temperature adding HP heaters on supercritical unit performance is performed, but the effect of reducing feed water temperature stopping HP heaters on supercritical unit performance is implemented as well at the IPT-setting mode. Finally, the influence mechanism of feed water temperature on boiler thermal efficiency, steam turbine thermal consumption rate, standard coal consumption rate, power generation, denitrification efficiency, NOx production, steam temperature and other operating parameters of supercritical unit is absolutely revealed on IPT-setting mode. The investigation results show that the sensitivity of feed water temperature to supercritical unit performance varies greatly in different range of feed water temperature, especially when the feed water temperature is heated to the near the pseudo critical temperature, a dramatic change would take place in operation parameters of supercritical unit. Such a viewpoint is presented rigorously that increasing feed water temperature does not always achieve energy saving for supercritical units, also contrary to the existing viewpoint. (C) 2019 Published by Elsevier Ltd.